The sun is teasing us; it is 9PM but she (for the sun is definitely a ‘she’ today) is still far from the horizon. In the summer, she likes to stay out later in this part of the world.

Windows rolled down, I breathe in the smell of the river, the dusty ground and the car fumes. Music fills my ears and my heart, and I sing out loud. The others pass around warm wine, and laughter echoes in the car despite the language barriers.

It doesn’t take much to make me fall in love with life: sunshine, music and good company.

By the time we get home the sun is grapefruit red and has spilt her colours around the sky. She is setting gracefully and sends a warm smile my way.

“I will only sleep for five hours today,” she says “but it has definitely been worth staying up to watch you kids have fun.”

“Come and join us!” she beckoned. “Rumour has it, someone important is on her way!”

Enticed by the Sun’s soft voice, I opened my balcony doors and stepped outside.

I soon saw that the Sun was right: the whole of nature seemed to be preparing for some grand event. The birds had a surplus of energy and were chasing each other at roller-coaster speed through the sky. The trees were standing taller than usual and were turning towards each other for advice on the most attractive position to hold their branches. The grass was showing off its new highlights, and the clouds were parading all of their shapes and forms across a light blue sky.

The Sun, with its long elegant rays, was nudging awake the sleeping flowers, who were reluctant to throw off the warm layer of dry leaves that had kept them warm during the winter. A zephyr came shyly towards me and kissed my cheek so softly that I barely noticed. Before I could give him an embarrassed smile back, he had already slid away silently.

The air was gathering perfumes from all corners of the Earth, and my eyelids were drooping slowing from this overdose of odours.

And in my dazed state, I believe to have heard a Whisper make its way through the treetops.

She spoke very quietly, but I caught the most important part of her message: “Spring is on her way!”